Nursing bra

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a garment for being used as a nursing bra and a suitable breast pad that is adapted to be fitted into pad pockets of the nursing bra. The nursing bra is basically made of a seamless knitted fabric and with an attachment of additional second fabric layer to the seamless knitted fabric pad pockets are being formed between the seamless knitted fabric and the second fabric. These pad pockets are accessible from respective openings that are formed in the second fabric at a position suitable for receiving a nipple of a wearer such. Furthermore, the openings are designed so as to allow relatively easy insertion and removal of the breast pad into and from the pad pockets. Thus, when the breast pads are accommodated within the pad pockets, a nipple wearer engages the breast pads such that any leakage of breastmilk is absorbed by the breast pad and the rest of the bra maintains dry. The pads are secured in their position when being received in the pockets to avoid misalignment of the nipple with the pad such that even during activity or sleep, the pads maintain in contact with the nipple and absorb the liquid or moisture deriving therefrom.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A garment comprising:
 a garment front and a garment back, two breast cup portions defined in the garment front, and a bottom support portion positioned below the breast cup portion for tight fitting over a wearer's chest or belly; 
 the garment being formed of
 (i) a single layer, knitted seamless first fabric having an outer and an inner surface, respective portions of the outer and inner surfaces thereof defining the breast cup portions, and 
 (ii) a single second fabric sheet attached or seamed to the inner surface of said knitted seamless first fabric to define respective pad pockets for each breast cup portion between said second fabric sheet and the inner surface of the breast cup portions, the second fabric sheet comprises respective openings formed at central portions of said pad pockets for allowing (a) introduction and removal of breast pads into said pad pockets, and (b) receiving a nipple of the wearer such that it engages an interior of the pad pockets. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein second fabric sheet is attached or seamed to the bottom support portion and a top end of the breast cup portions. 
     
     
       3. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the second fabric is a warp knitted fabric. 
     
     
       4. The garment of  claim 1 , comprising shoulder straps extending at a top end of the garment between the garment front and the garment back for fitting over shoulders of a wearer being integral with the first fabric, or being made of a shoulder-strap fabric being the same or of a different than the first fabric and bonded to the first fabric. 
     
     
       5. The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the breast cup portions are formed of a first fabric texture having a first elastic property and breast support portions surrounding said breast cup portions are formed of a second fabric texture having a second elastic property. 
     
     
       6. The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the second fabric texture is denser than the first fabric texture. 
     
     
       7. The garment of  claim 5 , wherein the breast support portions are located between the bottom support portion and the breast cup portions, between the breast cup portions and laterally peripheral to the breast portions. 
     
     
       8. The garment of  claim 7 , wherein the support portions are continuous. 
     
     
       9. The garment of  claim 1 , comprising fasteners couple formed at opposite lateral sides of the garment and configured to be fastened one to another for fastening the garment around the wearer's chest and/or back; and
 further comprising two sheets of a third fabric, each attached to the bottom end of the breast cup portion and to a shoulder strap for providing additional support to the breast of the wearer. 
 
     
     
       10. The garment of  claim 9 , wherein each of the third fabric sheets is seamed to (i) the bottom end of the respective cup portion, (ii) a portion of the second fabric, and (iii) is attachable to the top end of the breast cup via a shoulder strap clip that is configured for clipping to the shoulder strap. 
     
     
       11. The garment of  claim 10 , wherein when the third fabric is attached to the top end of the breast cup portion, it extends over a portion of the respective opening. 
     
     
       12. The garment of  claim 1 , comprising said breast pads. 
     
     
       13. The garment of  claim 1 , comprising a multi-layer reusable breast pad fitted in said breast pad pockets, said breast pad comprises:
 a nipple-engaging layer that is made of a knitted meshed fabric; 
 a jersey fabric layer; 
 an anti-microbial absorbent layer; 
 leak-proof layer; 
 the anti-microbial absorbent layer is formed between the nipple-engaging layer and the leak-proof layer and the leak-proof layer is formed between the anti-microbial absorbent layer and the jersey fabric layer; 
 wherein the breast pad is molded, thereby having a cup shape. 
 
     
     
       14. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the nipple-engaging layer is made of polyester. 
     
     
       15. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-microbial absorbent layer comprises polyester and anti-microbial agents. 
     
     
       16. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the leak-proof layer is made of polyester. 
     
     
       17. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the jersey fabric layer is made of a single jersey. 
     
     
       18. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the jersey fabric layer is made of polyester. 
     
     
       19. The garment of  claim 13 , wherein the anti-microbial layer and the leak-proof layer are laminated one to another;
 wherein the anti-microbial absorbent layer comprises about 150 Denier (D) polyester; and 
 wherein the anti-microbial absorbent layer comprises linolenic acid. 
 
     
     
       20. A garment comprising:
 a garment front and a garment back, two breast cup portions defined in the garment front, and a bottom support portion positioned below the breast cup portion for tight fitting over a wearer's chest or belly; 
 the garment being formed of
 (i) a single layer, knitted seamless first fabric having an outer and an inner surface, respective portions of the outer and inner surfaces thereof defining the breast cup portions, and 
 (ii) at least one fabric sheet attached or seamed to the inner surface of said knitted seamless first fabric to define respective pad pockets for each breast cup portion between said at least one second fabric sheet and the inner surface of the breast cup portions, the at least one second fabric sheet comprises respective openings formed at central portions of said pad pockets for allowing (a) introduction and removal of breast pads into said pad pockets, and (b) receiving a nipple of the wearer such that it engages an interior of the pad pockets.